what it means to “look like” a mother
I promise to post about my birthday tomorrow. In fact, I’ll go ahead and write it today and schedule it for tomorrow just to ensure that it gets posted but I wanted to post about this while I was thinking about it. Monday Sprog was off of school and couldn’t find any of his friends to go to the mall with, much to his annoyance, so he had to be content with running me around on my errands. One of my errands was a search (in vain) for some Kate Spade jewelry at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s after seeing R’s score on twitter.
At Marshall’s he spotted a girl he knew and proceeded to text her about them both being shopping with their moms…and she was shocked as per usual. She was under the impression that I was his sister. This weekend I turned 37.
I took this picture
and then later this one of my outfit
by means of comparison I’d like to show you my biological mother and me in our horrible glamor shots (one of the last pictures I have of us together, actually)
I’m 19 in this picture and my mother is 46 so a 9 year difference in age between her then and me now. (this was the same year I got pregnant with Sprog HOLY CRAP)
I’m sure a lot can and will change about my appearance in 9 years but I’m hoping that not so much will change, honestly. I’m investing in a lot of high dollar sunscreens and fancy face creams so that not a lot will change, honestly. I eat a vegetarian diet and I take a multi vitamin. I don’t smoke and I don’t spend a lot of time in the sun. I hardly drink but I do drink a lot of water.
The thing is, I also worry about it. I worry about it being wrong that I do look like I could be my child’s sister instead of it being obvious that I am his mother. I worry about it being uncomfortable for him that when we go out to eat now, we ALWAYS get asked if the checks are separate, like we are friends or siblings instead of parent and child. He laughs about it every time and he says it doesn’t bother him but my mother dressed like a teenager even though she totally wasn’t and it DROVE ME NUTS, so I worry. My mother shopped in the juniors section well into the time that I stopped talking to her which was into her 50’s and when she was also a grandmother, fyi. My mother showed up at my school in her tennis skirts and bloomers because “I have good legs, why not show them?” and OMG, no.
I’m sure that it’s different for girls but I worry that it’s not really that different, that even though he says it’s funny and he says he’s okay with it, he’s just doing that because he’s generally the kid that tries to please. I have no idea how to “dress like a mom” but I usually buy longer skirts and dresses that aren’t skin tight. I also know that he gives me crap because all of my skirts are long. He says they are so long they should be called dresses not skirts and of course my husband would prefer that I show some skin from time to time and so against the judgement of Stacey and Clinton I bought a mini-ish skirt with my Christmas money…the trick is getting me to actually wear it.
There is a difference between dressing young to get attention (i.e. showing way too much skin) and dressing young and trendy age-appropriately. All the pictures I have seen of you are completely age appropriate. I think clothes and hairstyles these days do a much better job of not making someone look older than they are, unlike the 80’s. You are fine – and gorgeous by the way!! Happy Birthday! Stop worrying about it – you might finally get some frown lines!
First of all, you look good and NOT in a, “Mo-om don’t dress like that!” kind of way. You’re stylish and appropriate, my lady.
And second of all, am I to understand Sprog texted a girl when he could have just…Gone up and talked to her? Kids these days!
I like how Valerie put it! I don’t think you dress too young for your age or in any way inappropriately.
Carry on with what you do!
You look like a spring chicken!
I went on a search for that Kate Spade jewelry too! Home goods & TJ Maxx didn’t even have jewelry sections!
I constantly have this discussion in my head all of the time…I just always remember my mom looking/acting more mom-like than I feel, when she was my age. Maybe it’s just a generational thing?
But I would agree with everything said here…you just have amazing style, which is never something to be ashamed of
I think more important than “looking” like a mom (abd who is to say what the definition of that really is) is that you ACT like a mom. Sprig knows “who’s boss” so to speak, you’re the responsible one. Plus I do think it’s different for a boy and his mom vs a daughter – he’s proud of you. You’re his definition of “pretty” abd a standard he’ll wind up judging girls by. With a daughter – I think a rivalry developed – even if not on purpose
You have a great sence of style and are fadionable vs trendy – which IMO makes a big difference. Plus you know how to dress for your body type. That can be hard (I know it is for me)
One thing I’ve noticed living in Dallas is how many women of all ages look sonput together and “nice” all the time. I love it.
SHUT UP THAT IS NOT YOU IN THAT GLAMOUR SHOT OMG!!!!
You may dress hip and cool, but you are not dressing trashy- know what I mean? There are some Moms who are trying to dress young when… they just cannot do it. Or they do it WRONG. But you look great and you’re doing it the right way